Automatic docking system

ABSTRACT

An automatic boat docking system for guiding and docking a boat in a boat slip; including a pair of laterally spaced dock structures defining a boat slip therebetween and having a pair of pivoted retaining booms at the outer ends of the dock structures adjacent the entrance to the slip movable between a closed position transversely spanning the slip entrance and an open position. A cross-rope movable along the slip and a harness rope are engaged by an entering boat to swing the booms to the closed position behind the boat and wrap the boat in transversely centered position by the harness rope.

United States Patent [191 Wilson, Jr. Oct. 9, 1973 [54] AUTOMATICDOCKING SYSTEM 1,734,899 11/1929 Frank 49/263 [76] lnventor: Clyde H.Wilson, Jr.,P.O. Box "274378 7/1918 Kmg 1635 Sarasota 33578 PrimaryExaminer-Duane A. Reger [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 AssistantExaminer--Ga1en L. Barefoot V [21] Appl' No; 296,212 Attorney-Thomas B.Van Poole et a1.

' [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 114/230, 49/1 1%};1922335 An automatic boatdocking System for guiding and docking a boat in a boat slip; includinga pair of later- 51 1 t Cl B63b 21/00 d 230 231 ally spaced dockstructures defininga boat slip there- 1 e 23; 5 26'3 1 l 1 between andhaving a pair of pivoted retaining booms l at the outer ends of the dockstructures adjacent the entrance to the slip movable between aclosedposition [56] References Cited transversely spanning the slipentrance and an open UNITED STATES PATENTS position. A cross-ropemovable along the slip and a 3,364,895 l/ 1968 De .long et a1 114/230harness rope are engaged by an entering boat to swing 3,336,896 8/1967Burnett 114/2 X the booms to the closed position behind the boat and2,744,483 5/ 1956 Rhmdless-- 14/5 BD wrap the boat in transverselycentered position by the 3,237,587 3/1966 Ross 114/230 harness rope2,411,382 ll/1946 Martin 114/230 1,600,519 9/1926 Skuley et a1. 49/10525 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1L: 0 I r I 25 23 I 0. Fl 28,

PATENTED 9 75 SHEEI 1 0F 3 dIL 1 AUTOMATIC no'cxmc SYSTEM BACKGROUND ANDOBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general toboat fending and docking aids, and more particularly to an automaticdocking system employing apparatus which allows a boat to beautomatically guided into proper mooring relationship in a slip anddocked in the slip responsive to merely driving the boat into the'slip,without requiring work by attendants to achieve the dock- Heretofore, ithas usually been required to employ one or more attending personnel,usually skilled help, to assist in guiding boats which are approaching adock or slip into proper mooring relationship in the docking facilityand to tie the boat in the slip by securing lines around cleats orothersecuring facilities on the dock side. Frequently, attending personnel oneach side of the slip are employed with boat fending poles to keep theentering boat properly centered in the slip while it is advancing intodocking or mooring position, to avoid possibly damaging collisionsbetween the side of the craft and the sides of the slip. Such attendingpersonnel are also needed to receive the lines being tossed from thepilot or operator of the boat to secure them to stationary fasteningmeans on the dock or slip for tying the craft in proper position.

An object of the present invention is the provision o a novel automaticclocking structure which maintains the craft properly centered as itadvances into desired docking position within a slip and whichautomatically closes b ooms at the entrance end of the slip when theboat has entered into proper docking position to restrain the boat inthe slip.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novelautomatic docking system for boats'having structure for automaticallyguiding a boat moving into a slip or docking well into proper mooringrelationship therein and maintaining the boat properly centered betweenthe opposite walls of the slip or well.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of automaticdocking structure for docking a boat in a slip or boat well, adapted tocontinuously position the boat in properly centered relationship in theslip or boat well and minimizing the need for conventional fenderdevices and other boat positioning aids.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automaticboat docking system embodying the present invention, the boat beingshown approaching the slip with the bow of the boat just entering theentrance opening to the slip;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the automatic boat docking system, showingthe boat in process of progressing toward the rear portion of the slip;FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the automatic docking system, showing theboat fully moved to the rear end of the slip wherein the retaining boomsare in fully closed position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the entrance or frontportion of the slip and the retaining booms;

FIG. 4A is a section view to enlarged scale, taken along line 4A-4A ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is-a fragmentary top plan view illustrating a form ofconstruction of the friction locks or catches which are provided, thelock being shown in solid lines in the normal locking position and inbrokenlines in the open position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section view illustrating a type ofmanual lock which maybe employed to rest-rain the retaining booms inclosed position; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment employingstationary right and left hand dock sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings,wherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several figures, there is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 afirst embodiment of the automatic docking system of the presentinvention, for achieving automatic docking of a boat, indicatedgenerally by the reference character 10, which in the drawings isillustrated as an outboard motor boat of small conventional type, but,it

- should be understood, that the automatic docking system hereindescribed is applicable to boats of all sizes and to either inboard oroutboard type power craft. The automatic docking system comprises a pairof laterallyspaced, elongated floating deck structures indicated by thereference characters 11 and 12, provided with flotation devices orstructure and decking of any desired type, arranged to protrude out intothe water from a base dock, bulkhead or other structure, indicatedgenerally by the reference character 13. The two outwardly protrudingright and left hand floating dock structures 11 and 12 are spaced apartto form a standard boat slip or boat well, indicated by the referencecharacter 14. The right and left hand floating deck structures 11. and12 may be formed, for example, of conventional wooden decking resting onoil drums or the like to form raft-type dock structures.

The outer end portions of the side dock structures 11 and 12 have endformations 11a and 12a defining deck surfaces or shoulders which may beat a somewhat lower level than the top surfaces of the dock structures11 and 12, on which a pair of spring loaded reels' l5 and 16 aremounted. A pair of pivoting retaining booms 17 and 18, each of asuitable length to span entirely across the entrance of the slip 14, arealso pivotally supported on the end formations 1 la, 12a for swingingmovement about vertical axes, with one of the retaining booms, forexample the right hand retaining boom 17 positioned at a horizontallevel just above the horizontal level of the left hand retaining boom18. The booms l7 and 18 each carry idler pulleys l9 and 20 adjacenttheir outer free ends.

A rope 21 wound at one end on the spring loaded reel 15 leads from thereel 15 to the pulley 19 adjacent the outer end of the right handretaining boom 17 and is trained about the pulley l9 and then inclinesinwardly to the mid point of a cross rope 22. The rope 21 is connectedto the mid point of a rope 22 and then inclines outwardly toward the endof the left hand retaining boom 18 where it is trained about the pulley20 and then extends inwardly to be wound at its opposite end 3 portionupon the spring loaded reel 16 on the opposite or left hand floatingdock structure 12.

The opposite ends of the cross rope 22 are secured to traveling anchors23, such as pulley type travelers shown more clearly in FIG. 4A having apulley wheel 24 rolling against a track forming rod 25 fixed to therespective floating dock structure 11 or 12 and extending the lengththereof, and including a U-shaped member 26 having end portionssupporting the axle for the respective pulley 24 and having the end ofthe cross rope 22 connected to the bridge portion of the U- shapedmember 26. It will be understood that the ropes 21 and 22 may be ropes,cables, hawsers, or nautical lines of any type, the term rope being usedherein in its broad generic sense to include all types of nauticallines.

Suitable stops of any desired construction, indicated by referencecharacter 28 (which may be merely two knots properly placed on the rope21) are located along portions of the rope 21 outboard of the arms 17and 18 when in their open position of FIG. 1, to make contact with theoutside of the pulleys 19 and 20 when the stern of the boat passes thepivot point of the booms 1 7, 18 upon entering the slip, to preventfurther rope from passing through the pulleys and thus force the boomsto swing inwardly upon further inward movement of the boat, therebyproviding a lost motion coupling. Similarly, other stops 29 (such aslarge knots), may be provided on the harness rope 21 inboard of thebooms l7 and 18, to engage the pulleys l9 and 20 at an appropriatetime,as later described, to facilitate I pulling of the retaining booms17, 18 outwardly to open position.

In the operation of the automatic docking system, the boat is steered bythe pilot or operator to approach the V rope formation defined by thesections 21a and 21b of the harness rope 21 extending from the pulleyson the free ends of the retaining booms to the connection with thecenter point of the cross rope 22 when the retaining booms are in theoutwardly projecting perpendicular position. As the boat moves forwardinto the entrance or front of the boat slip 14, the boat makes contactwith the harness rope sections 21a and 21b and then with the cross rope22 where it is joined by the harness rope 21, and the forward motion ofthe boat begins to wind out the harness rope 21 from the spring loadedreels 15, 16 and push the cross rope 22 toward the rear of the boatslip, causing the traveling rollers 23 at the opposite ends of the crossrope to track rearwardly along the rod tracks 25. As the boat 10 passesthe retaining booms 17, 18 during its forward or inward motion, theyremain open. As the boat reaches a position approaching the rear portionof the slip so that the stern of the boat passes inwardly or rearwardlyof the location of the pivot points of the retaining booms 17, 18, thetwo stops 28 make contact with the outside of the pulleys 19,20 on theretaining booms 17 and 18, to prevent further harness rope from passingthrough these pulleys. This causes the retaining booms 17, 18 to becomesnagged" on the harness rope 21 and the continued rearward movement ofthe boat acting on the cross rope 22 and the harness rope 21 forces theretaining booms 17, 18 to swing inwardly about their pivots. Since oneof the retaining booms is at a higher horizontal level than the other,the two booms 17, 18 swing inwardly without colliding until they reach aposition perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the clock structures11, 12, executing-an inward motion similar to two swinging gatespivoting to closing position. When each of the retaining booms 17, 18reachesa position perpendicular to the associated dock structure 11, 12,the free end of the retaining boom engages a spring loaded frictionlock, such as indicated at 30 in FIG. 5, pivotally mounted on a standardor stop member 31 on the end portion of the opposite floating dockstructure. As the retaining booms 17, 18 reach this perpendicular,closing position, their end portions activate the spring loaded frictionlocks 30 to flip them over and hold the retaining booms in closedposition. As the retaining booms 17, 18 cross in swinging shut, thehalves of the harness rope 21 extending from their connection with thecross rope 22 cross behind the boat, thereby encircling the entire boatin the harness thus created by the rope 21. The cross rope 22 continuesto serve to hold the bow of the boat at the transverse center of theboat slip. The boat pilot or operator then turns off the engine or motorand allows the spring loaded reels 15, 16 to rewind the harness rope 21to the extent they are capable of doing so, and thereby pull the boatrearwardly or outwardly toward the entrance end of the slip until theboat is close to the entrance portion.

When the boat pilot or operator decides to leave the slip, he merelystarts the boat engine or motor, puts it in reverse gear, and operatesthe boat to press gently against the retaining booms 17, 18 until thepressure unlocks the spring loaded friction locks 30. Then, theretaining booms l7, 18 are pushed open by the rearward motion of theboat and the boat is free to back out of the slip. As the spring loadedreels 15,16 wind back the harness rope 21, during the exit of the boatfrom the slip,two other stops 29, such as large knots, on the harnessrope 21 catch in the pulleys on the free end portions of the retainingbooms 17 and 18 and pull them outward to draw them to the fully openposition illustrated in FIG. 1 where the gate formed by the retainingbooms is fully open to receive another boat and repeat the process.

An example of the spring loaded friction lock 30 is illustrated in FIG.5, showing the spring lock to be of the type which includes an arcuateframe 32 extending over a substantially semi-circular arcuate path andhaving opposite end portions mounting roller members 33, 34 and a spring35 of the overcenter type designed to resiliently position the arcuatecarrier 32 in either the release position indicated in broken lines inFIG. 5 or the holding position indicated in solid lines in FIG. 5. Whenthe restraining booms 17, 18 have been swung to the open position ofFIG. 1, the friction locks 30 assume the release position illustrated inbroken lines in FIG. 5, so that one of the rollers 34 is in position tobe engaged by the end portion of the opposite restraining boom when thelatter approaches closed position to swing the spring loaded frictionlock to the holding position illustrated in FIG. 5.

As an additional feature, there may be optionally provided amanuallyoperable safety lock as illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein a lockingpin 40 having an angularly disposed handle portion 40a extending fromthe stem portion 40b is inserted through a threaded opening in astationary bracket member 41 fixed to the associated dock structure andextends through an opening 42 in the end portion of one of the retainingbooms 17, 18 and thence into an opening or socket 43 in a portion 44 ofthe adjacent dock structure disposed below the end of the stern 40b ofthe locking pin 40 maybe similarly threaded,to facilitate threading ofthe locking pin into the holding position illustrated in FIG. 6.

ln cases'where'the boat owner may wish to install an automatic dockingsystem incorporating the principles of the present invention inconjunction with nonfloating docks, an arrangement may be provided ofthe type illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein the dock structures lland 12'are stationary docks defining a slip therebetween, and the rod tracks25', the spring loaded reels 15, 16, and the mounts'for the retainingbooms'l7', 18' are mounted on a frame work 11a and 12a having flotationfacilities 50 located on the inside of each of the stationarydockstructures ll, l2' and slidably or movably coupled to the stationarydock structures in any conventional manner, such as by beams or channelsand brackets interfitting with the beams or channels. The purpose ofproviding for flotation of the rod tracks and the mounting structure forthe retaining booms is that it is necessary for the harness rope and theretaining booms and the cross rope to move up and I down with the boatas the tides change in tidal waters.

sp'ansaid entrance portion, entrance stations associated with each ofsaid dock sections in laterally flanking relation to said entranceportion including means for pivotally supporting the respective boomsadjacent an end of the booms for swinging movement about-vertical pivotaxes between an open position spaced laterportion of the retaining'boom.The opening in the mounting member 41 may be threaded, and'a portionally for admission of the boat therebetween and a closed positioncross-wise spanning said entrance portion disposing free end portions ofthe booms adjacent the opposite dock sections, and harness rope meanshaving lost motion couplings with the free end portions of the booms andextending therebetween to be engage'd by the bow portion of a boatentering between said booms in open position and draw the booms to saidclosed'position behind the boat when it reaches a docking positionwithin theslip.

2. A boat docking system as defined in claim 1, including spring loadedreels associated with each of said -dock sections and located adjacentsaid entrance portion, said harness rope means having its opposite endwound on said reels and extending to the free end portions of said boomsand therefrom in a V-section converging inwardly toward the rear of saidslip to receive the bow portion of the entering boat in the V-section ofthe rope means.

cross-wise relation and coupled to said harness rope means at the apexof said V-secti0ns,'and movable coupling means secured to the oppositeends of the crossmember and guided along track formations associatedwith said dock sections to permit translation movement of thecross-member toward the rear of the slip responsive to engagement by thebow of the entering boat.

5. A boat docking system as defined in claim 3,

wherein said cross member is a cross-wise rope having rollers connectedto opposite ends thereof forming said coupling means in rolling contactwith said track formations.

6. A boat docking system as defined in claim 4, wherein said crossmember is a cross-wise rope having rollers connected to opposite endsthereof forming said coupling means in rolling contact with said trackformations.

7. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2, wherein the free endportions of said retaining booms include pulleys about which saidharness rope means is trained, s'aid rope means including stopformations located outboard of the pulleys to snag rope portions in thepulleys when selected lengths of rope are withdrawn from the reels anddraw the booms to said closed position responsive to further movement ofthe boat toward the rear of the slip.

8. A boat docking 'system as defined in claim 4, wherein the freeendportions of said retaining booms include pulleys about which saidharness rope means'is trained, said rope means including stop formationslocated outboard of the pulleys to'snag rope portions in the pulleyswhen selected lengths of rope are withdrawn from the reels and draw thebooms to said closed positon responsive to further movement of the boattoward the rear of the slip.

9. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2, wherein the free endportions of said retaining booms include pulleys about'which saidharness rope means is trained, said rope means including stop formationslocated outboard of the pulleys to snag rope portions in the pulleyswhen rope lengths are withdrawn from the reels corresponding to enteringmovement of a boat which locates its stern, near said entrance portionand draw'the booms to said closed position responsive to 10. A boatdocking system as defined in claim 4,

wherein the free end portions of said retaining booms include pulleysabout which said harness rope means is trained, said rope meansincluding stop formations located outboard of the pulleys to snag'ropeportions in the pulleys when rope lengths are withdrawn from the reelscorresponding to entering movement of a boat which locates its sternnear said entrance portion and draw the booms to said closed positionresponsive 'to further movement of the boat toward the rear of the slip.I 7

11. A boat docking system as defined in claim 1, including spring loadedcatch members located at each of said entrance stations normally inrelease condition when said booms occupy said open position and engagedby free end portions of the booms pivoted on the opposite entrancestation means to shift to releasible latching relation with such freeend portions when the booms reach said closed position.

12. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2, including spring loadedcatch members located at each of said entrance stations normally inrelease condition when said booms occupy said open position and engagedby free end portions of the booms pivoted on the opposite entrancestation means to shift to releasible latching relation with such freeend portions when the booms reach said closed position.

13. A boat docking system as defined in claim 8, including spring loadedcatch members located at each of said entrance stations normally inrelease condition when said booms occupy said open position and engagedby free end portions of the booms pivoted on the opposite entrancestation means to shift to releasible latching relation with such freeend portions when the booms reach said closed position.

14. A boat docking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said retainingbooms are located in different vertically spaced horizontal planes so asto be disposed in close proximity one over the other at said closedposition.

15. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2, wherein said retainingbooms are located in different vertically spaced horizontal planes so asto be disposed in close proximity one over'the other at 'said closedposition.

16. A boat docking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said retainingbooms are located in different vertically spaced horizontal planes so asto be disposed in close proximity one over the other at said closedposition.

17. A boat docking system as defined in claim 11, wherein said retainingbooms are located in different vertically spaced horizontal planes so asto be disposed in close proximity one over the other at said closedposition.

18. An automatic docking system as defined in claim 1, wherein saidharness rope means are positioned by the free end portions of said boomswhen the booms swing from open to closed positions so that the ropeportions aft of the boat during movement of the boat within and towardthe rear of the slip are caused to cross-over each other aft of the stemto form a harness embracing the whole sides of the boat.

19. An automatic docking system as defined in claim 2, wherein saidharness rope means are positioned by the free end portions of said boomswhen the booms swing from open to closed positions so that the ropeportions aft of the boat during movement of the boat within and towardthe rear of the slip are caused to cross-over each other aft of the stemto form a harness embracing the whole sides of the boat.

20. An automatic docking system as defined in claim 8, wherein saidharness rope means are positioned by the free end portions of said boomswhen the booms swing from open to closed positions so that the ropeportions aft of the boat during movement of the boat within and towardthe rear of the slip are caused to cross-over each other aft of the stemto form a harness embracing the whole sides of .the boat.

21. In a boat docking system for docking boats in a boat slip definedbetween two laterally spaced elongated dock sections and having anentrance portion through which a boat enters and leaves the slip, anautomatic docking structure comprising a pair of elongated retainingbooms having a length to collectively span said entrance portion,entrance stations associated with each of said dock sections inlaterally flanking relation to said entrance portion including means forpivotally supporting the respective booms adjacent an end of the boomsfor swinging movement about vertical pivot axes between an open positionspaced laterally for admission of the boat therebetween and a closedposition extending cross-wise of said entrance portion, and harness ropemeans having lost motion couplings with free end portions of the boomsremote from their pivoted ends and extending therebetween to be engagedby the bow portion of a boat entering between said booms in openposition and draw the booms to said closed position behind the boat whenit reaches a docking position within the slip.

22. A boat docking system as defined in claim 21, including springloaded reels associated with each of said dock sections and locatedadjacent said entrance portion, said harness rope means having itsopposite end wound on said reels and extending to the free end portionsof said booms and therefrom in a V-section converging inwardly towardthe rear of said slip to receive the bow portion of the entering boat inthe V-section of the rope means.

23. A boat docking system as defined in claim 21, including across-member laterally spanning the slip in cross-wise relation andcoupled to said harness rope means at the apex of said V-sections, andmovable coupling means secured to the opposite ends of the crossrnemberand guided along track formations associated with said dock sections topermit translation movement of the cross-member toward the rear of theslip responsive to engagement by the bow of the entering boat.

24. A boat docking system as defined in claim 21, wherein the free endportions of said retaining booms include pulleys aboutwhich said harnessrope means is trained, and rope means including stop formations locatedoutboard of the pulleys to snag rope portions in the pulleys when ropelengths are withdrawn from the reels corresponding to entering movementof a boat which locates its stern near said entrance portion and drawthe booms to said closed position responsive to further movement of theboat toward the rear of the slip.

25. An automatic docking system as defined in claim 21, wherein saidharness rope means are positioned by the free end portions of said boomswhen the booms swing from open to closed positions so that the ropeportions aft of the boat during movement of the boat within and towardthe rear of the slip are caused to cross-over each other aft of the stemto form a harness embracing the whole sides of the boat.

1. In a boat docking system for docking boats in a boat slip definedbetween two laterally spaced elongated dock sections and having anentrance portion through which a boat enters and leaves the slip, anautomatic docking structure comprising a pair of elongated retainingbooms having a length to transversely span said entrance portion,entrance stations associated with each of said dock sections inlaterally flanking relation to said entrance portion including means forpivotally supporting the respective booms adjacent an end of the boomsfor swinging movement about vertical pivot axes between an open positionspaced laterally for admission of the boat therebetween and a closedposition cross-wise spanning said entrance portion disposing free endportions of the booms adjacent the opposite dock sections, and harnessrope means having lost motion couplings with the free end portions ofthe booms and extending therebetween to be engaged by the bow portion ofa boat entering between said booms in open position and draw the boomsto said closed position behind the boat when it reaches a dockingposition within the slip.
 2. A boat docking system as defined in claim1, including spring loaded reels associated with each of said docksections and located adjacent said entrance portion, said harness ropemeans having its opposite end wound on said reels and extending to thefree end portions of said booms and therefrom in a V-section converginginwardly toward the rear of said slip to receive the bow portion of theentering boat in the V-section of the rope means.
 3. A boat dockingsystem as defined in claim 1, including a cross member laterallyspanning the slip in cross-wise relation and coupled to said harnessrope means mid-way of the slip, and movable coupling means secured tothe opposite ends of the cross-member and guided along track formationsassociated with said dock sections to permit translation movement of thecross-member toward the rear of the slip responsive to engagement by thebow of the entering boat.
 4. A boat docking system as defined in claim2, including a cross member laterally spanning the slip in cross-wiserelation and coupled to said harness rope means at the apex of saidV-sections, and movable coupling means secured to the opposite ends ofthe cross-member and guided along track formations associated with saiddock sections to permit translation movement of the cross-member towardthe rear of the slip responsive to engagement by the bow of the enteringboat.
 5. A boat docking system as defined in claim 3, wherein said crossmember is a cross-wise rope having rollers connected to opposite endsthereof forming said coupling means in rolling contact with said trackformations.
 6. A boat docking system as defined in claim 4, wherein saidcross member is a cross-wise rope having rollers connected to oppositeends thereof forming said coupling means in rolling contact with saidtrack formations.
 7. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2,wherein the free end portions of said retaining booms include pulleysabout which said harness rope means is trained, said rope meansincluding stop formations located outboard of the pulleys to snag ropeportions in the pulleys when selected lengths of rope are withdrawn fromthe reels and draw the booms to said closed position responsive tofurther movement of the boat toward the rear of the slip.
 8. A boatdocking system as defined in claim 4, wherein the free end portions ofsaid retaining booms include pulleys about which said harness rope meansis trained, said rope means including stop formations located outboardof the pulleys to snag rope portions in the pulleys when selectedlengths of rope are witHdrawn from the reels and draw the booms to saidclosed positon responsive to further movement of the boat toward therear of the slip.
 9. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2,wherein the free end portions of said retaining booms include pulleysabout which said harness rope means is trained, said rope meansincluding stop formations located outboard of the pulleys to snag ropeportions in the pulleys when rope lengths are withdrawn from the reelscorresponding to entering movement of a boat which locates its sternnear said entrance portion and draw the booms to said closed positionresponsive to further movement of the boat toward the rear of the slip.10. A boat docking system as defined in claim 4, wherein the free endportions of said retaining booms include pulleys about which saidharness rope means is trained, said rope means including stop formationslocated outboard of the pulleys to snag rope portions in the pulleyswhen rope lengths are withdrawn from the reels corresponding to enteringmovement of a boat which locates its stern near said entrance portionand draw the booms to said closed position responsive to furthermovement of the boat toward the rear of the slip.
 11. A boat dockingsystem as defined in claim 1, including spring loaded catch memberslocated at each of said entrance stations normally in release conditionwhen said booms occupy said open position and engaged by free endportions of the booms pivoted on the opposite entrance station means toshift to releasible latching relation with such free end portions whenthe booms reach said closed position.
 12. A boat docking system asdefined in claim 2, including spring loaded catch members located ateach of said entrance stations normally in release condition when saidbooms occupy said open position and engaged by free end portions of thebooms pivoted on the opposite entrance station means to shift toreleasible latching relation with such free end portions when the boomsreach said closed position.
 13. A boat docking system as defined inclaim 8, including spring loaded catch members located at each of saidentrance stations normally in release condition when said booms occupysaid open position and engaged by free end portions of the booms pivotedon the opposite entrance station means to shift to releasible latchingrelation with such free end portions when the booms reach said closedposition.
 14. A boat docking system as defined in claim 1, wherein saidretaining booms are located in different vertically spaced horizontalplanes so as to be disposed in close proximity one over the other atsaid closed position.
 15. A boat docking system as defined in claim 2,wherein said retaining booms are located in different vertically spacedhorizontal planes so as to be disposed in close proximity one over theother at said closed position.
 16. A boat docking system as defined inclaim 8, wherein said retaining booms are located in differentvertically spaced horizontal planes so as to be disposed in closeproximity one over the other at said closed position.
 17. A boat dockingsystem as defined in claim 11, wherein said retaining booms are locatedin different vertically spaced horizontal planes so as to be disposed inclose proximity one over the other at said closed position.
 18. Anautomatic docking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said harnessrope means are positioned by the free end portions of said booms whenthe booms swing from open to closed positions so that the rope portionsaft of the boat during movement of the boat within and toward the rearof the slip are caused to cross-over each other aft of the stern to forma harness embracing the whole sides of the boat.
 19. An automaticdocking system as defined in claim 2, wherein said harness rope meansare positioned by the free end portions of said booms when the boomsswing from open to closed positions so that the rope portions aft of theboat during movement of the boat within and toward the reaR of the slipare caused to cross-over each other aft of the stern to form a harnessembracing the whole sides of the boat.
 20. An automatic docking systemas defined in claim 8, wherein said harness rope means are positioned bythe free end portions of said booms when the booms swing from open toclosed positions so that the rope portions aft of the boat duringmovement of the boat within and toward the rear of the slip are causedto cross-over each other aft of the stern to form a harness embracingthe whole sides of the boat.
 21. In a boat docking system for dockingboats in a boat slip defined between two laterally spaced elongated docksections and having an entrance portion through which a boat enters andleaves the slip, an automatic docking structure comprising a pair ofelongated retaining booms having a length to collectively span saidentrance portion, entrance stations associated with each of said docksections in laterally flanking relation to said entrance portionincluding means for pivotally supporting the respective booms adjacentan end of the booms for swinging movement about vertical pivot axesbetween an open position spaced laterally for admission of the boattherebetween and a closed position extending cross-wise of said entranceportion, and harness rope means having lost motion couplings with freeend portions of the booms remote from their pivoted ends and extendingtherebetween to be engaged by the bow portion of a boat entering betweensaid booms in open position and draw the booms to said closed positionbehind the boat when it reaches a docking position within the slip. 22.A boat docking system as defined in claim 21, including spring loadedreels associated with each of said dock sections and located adjacentsaid entrance portion, said harness rope means having its opposite endwound on said reels and extending to the free end portions of said boomsand therefrom in a V-section converging inwardly toward the rear of saidslip to receive the bow portion of the entering boat in the V-section ofthe rope means.
 23. A boat docking system as defined in claim 21,including a cross-member laterally spanning the slip in cross-wiserelation and coupled to said harness rope means at the apex of saidV-sections, and movable coupling means secured to the opposite ends ofthe cross-member and guided along track formations associated with saiddock sections to permit translation movement of the cross-member towardthe rear of the slip responsive to engagement by the bow of the enteringboat.
 24. A boat docking system as defined in claim 21, wherein the freeend portions of said retaining booms include pulleys about which saidharness rope means is trained, and rope means including stop formationslocated outboard of the pulleys to snag rope portions in the pulleyswhen rope lengths are withdrawn from the reels corresponding to enteringmovement of a boat which locates its stern near said entrance portionand draw the booms to said closed position responsive to furthermovement of the boat toward the rear of the slip.
 25. An automaticdocking system as defined in claim 21, wherein said harness rope meansare positioned by the free end portions of said booms when the boomsswing from open to closed positions so that the rope portions aft of theboat during movement of the boat within and toward the rear of the slipare caused to cross-over each other aft of the stern to form a harnessembracing the whole sides of the boat.